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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish Starmer would make a unilateral decision to rejoin the EU?

308 replies

Wildflowers99 · 27/02/2025 18:59

That’s all, really. Yes it would be ‘undemocratic’ but should we sacrifice national interest on the altar of a vote from 10 years ago that everyone seems to regret?

We feel adrift during a scary time, and the US has all but ghosted us.

OP posts:
Biscuitsnotcookies · 27/02/2025 19:47

StandFirm · 27/02/2025 19:45

But it's not really the point though... Trump knows full well that most countries can't afford a sudden increase. Not saying that the ones lagging behind like Italy and Spain for example shouldn't pull their weight, but the fact is he doesn't actually want to protect Europe. The % increase is an excuse. And what has he just done? 25% tariffs on goods coming from the EU. Now THAT"s really going to help raise the funds quickly! I suspect he just really wants NATO to go away.

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Well it isn’t serving the US and they are paying billions for it, so I do see their point of view to some degree. Europe and especially Germany can well afford the increase, and their defence is their responsibility.

HhalloNine · 27/02/2025 19:48

edwinbear · 27/02/2025 19:42

He can’t rejoin the EU and put VAT on school fees. It’s illegal to tax education in the EU. Labour are absolutely wedded to taxing private schools and they won’t give that up. And frankly, people in the UK seem to hate private schools more than they hate Brexit, so can’t see it would go down well, regardless of any benefits.

Nah, that wouldn't even enter into my voting to rejoin the EU.

EasternEcho · 27/02/2025 19:49

Biscuitsnotcookies · 27/02/2025 19:42

I don’t think we are going to be served to any country on a ‘silver platter’ what I do think however is Trump quite rightly wants countries like Germany and others in the EU to pay their fair share towards NATO, which they have never done to date.
So he is playing hardball and quite frankly why should the US pay for Europe’s security?

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But NATO doesn't work that way. Nobody "pays" their fair share. Countries invest in their own military up to a certain percentage of their GDP: Furthermore, so far NATO has been invoked only for Europe and Canada to come to the aid of US in wars started by them. The US has not come to the aid of Europe under NATO. I don't think Trump understands NATO. He seems to think that the US is a hired mercenary force that will defend if you "pay" it.

Theunamedcat · 27/02/2025 19:50

They don't want or need us back in

We won't get favorable conditions if we rejoin we will be worse off than we were before

It's pointless

Upstartled · 27/02/2025 19:51

Having not put it in the manifesto or made any indication that this was on the cards, you think Starmer should bypass our all democratic processes, and attempt to unilaterally rejoin the EU?

MemorableTrenchcoat · 27/02/2025 19:52

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 27/02/2025 19:08

YABU I don't know anyone who voted leave who regrets the decision. I'd expect full scale riots if he even attempted anything of the like. He and his party are hugely disliked, especially amongst the sterotype population who voted leave. Making that kind of decision would be disaster.

America may have ghosted us because of our current goverment who have been fairly obvious in their opinions of the new American President.

Edited

Interesting anecdote. I know several people who voted leave and now regret their decision.

Upstartled · 27/02/2025 19:52

I mean, even outside of the fact that it is logistically moot, what is this reflex drive for a dictatorship?

Biscuitsnotcookies · 27/02/2025 19:52

EasternEcho · 27/02/2025 19:49

But NATO doesn't work that way. Nobody "pays" their fair share. Countries invest in their own military up to a certain percentage of their GDP: Furthermore, so far NATO has been invoked only for Europe and Canada to come to the aid of US in wars started by them. The US has not come to the aid of Europe under NATO. I don't think Trump understands NATO. He seems to think that the US is a hired mercenary force that will defend if you "pay" it.

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Exactly and most EU countries haven’t invested at all in their military infrastructure for decades and decades. With the exception of France and Poland.

IdaGlossop · 27/02/2025 19:53

What a ludicrous idea. I was a reluctant remainer but wouldn't want to go back in now. Lots of reasons why. Trump has a visceral hatred of the EU. At the moment, we are holding the line between the EU and the USA at a time of great peril. Putin hates the EU too so yes, let's poke two bears, just to see what happens. EU countries, France in particular, are more than willing to work with us on defence without us being in the EU. Labour has far too much to do without the huge distraction and bad blood of another referendum. So far, we have escaped tariffs from Trump while they are being imposed on the EU. The price of rejoining would probably be accepting th Euro so we'd all become poorer.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 27/02/2025 19:54

Be careful what you wish for!

And I’m saying this as a convinced Remainer.

ARealitycheck · 27/02/2025 19:55

IMustDoMoreExercise · 27/02/2025 19:43

There are rumors that France will have to bailed out soon which will probably cause riots in Germany as they will have to pay for it.

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What will piss Germans off even more is that for a number of French citizens they can retire at 62/63 depending on when they started working. Imagine being a German woker at aged 65 to 67 knowing some of your tax is going to Countries where you would be retired if you lived there.

MidnightMeltdown · 27/02/2025 19:56

StandFirm · 27/02/2025 19:34

Our economy is really suffering from the barriers in trade with Europe. It was stupid then and is stupid now. The US will not give us a fair deal. I know Starmer is trying to play both sides but it won't last.

Rubbish. Unlike Germany, the UK isn't even in recession. All major economies are suffering as a result of the Ukraine War and Covid

Thank fuck we're not in the EU, otherwise we'd now be on the hook for the Covid recovery bill for all the poorer EU counties. As it is, it looks like Germany and France are going to have to foot the bill.

Partybaggage · 27/02/2025 19:56

edwinbear · 27/02/2025 19:42

He can’t rejoin the EU and put VAT on school fees. It’s illegal to tax education in the EU. Labour are absolutely wedded to taxing private schools and they won’t give that up. And frankly, people in the UK seem to hate private schools more than they hate Brexit, so can’t see it would go down well, regardless of any benefits.

Outside of Mumsnet the VAT policy is very popular among people from all walks of life. I doubt there's a correlation between remain voters and those who feel wealthy people should be let off paying tax on luxuries.

Biscuitsnotcookies · 27/02/2025 19:57

Partybaggage · 27/02/2025 19:56

Outside of Mumsnet the VAT policy is very popular among people from all walks of life. I doubt there's a correlation between remain voters and those who feel wealthy people should be let off paying tax on luxuries.

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I think you missed the point

Partybaggage · 27/02/2025 19:58

I voted remain but i would not vote to rejoin if there was another referendum.

Partybaggage · 27/02/2025 19:58

Biscuitsnotcookies · 27/02/2025 19:57

I think you missed the point

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What was the point then?

ButterCrackers · 27/02/2025 19:59

HhalloNine · 27/02/2025 19:46

Not true.

People who voted Labour also may have voted against Brexit.

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Truth - read my words.

AgnesX · 27/02/2025 20:01

As much as it sounds attractive it's not an option.

It needs to be a referendum. Again.

abracadabra1980 · 27/02/2025 20:01

🤣

JustSawJohnny · 27/02/2025 20:02

AGREE.

At this point its about how vulnerable we are without the backing of the US.

We need allies. It's that simple.

TheFirstTimeEverISawYourFace · 27/02/2025 20:03

Completely agree op 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺

Wintersgirl · 27/02/2025 20:05

SexAndCakes · 27/02/2025 19:24

This is the same sentiment as everyone at the time saying there should be a revote because people didn't understand the referendum.

I voted remain but am staunchly against anything that undermines our system of democracy. If you do away with that we are in serious trouble.

Yes absolutely, I was just going to say the same thing, I'm a remainer and I was gutted when we left however, we live in a democracy and I respect the result of the vote.

passwordaboutyou · 27/02/2025 20:06

I'm a staunch remain voter but doing this would be a terrible idea, it'd play right into Reform's hands.

AaaahBlandsHatch · 27/02/2025 20:06

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Purplebunnie · 27/02/2025 20:09

If we could go back we certainly wouldn't have the deal we had before we left. There would be many, many conditions upon our re-entering. I'm not sure what constraints we would find ourselves under. I think we really blew it and I take no satisfaction in that I didn't vote to leave. And I don't blame all the people who voted to leave as I am firmly of the conviction that there was outside interference from a couple of places that was instrumental in the outcome